Developing an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chatbot for Adolescents and Young Adults With Eating Disorders
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: "Exp-ED" Digital Exposure-Therapy Chatbot app.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Eating Disorders, Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge-Eating Disorder. Basic parameters: 12 years — 26 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- United States
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Official title
Developing an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Powered Exposure Therapy Chatbot for Adolescents and Young Adults With Eating Disorders
Overview
The goal of this study is to develop and refine an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered Exposure Therapy for Eating Disorders chatbot web-app that effectively engages adolescents and young adults and decreases anxiety about weight gain. Participants will use the web-app as a supplemental therapeutic tool during their first six weeks of treatment in a Partial Hospitalization Program. Participants will complete assessments every two weeks, including: (1) semi-structured interviews about their experience with the chatbot web-app; (2) implementation outcome measures (e.g., feasibility, usability, acceptability); and (3) anxiety about weight gain.
Detailed description
The overarching goal of this study is to develop and refine an AI-powered Exposure Therapy for Eating Disorders (Exp-ED) chatbot app that effectively engages adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with eating disorders (EDs) and decreases anxiety about weight gain. The investigators will enroll 20 AYAs (ages 12-26 years) entering the Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) for EDs at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. The initial version of the Exp-ED chatbot app will be developed by an interdisciplinary team with expertise in exposure therapy for EDs (Dr. Essayli), AI (Dr. Nawab), and implementation science (Dr. Lenker). Participants will use the Exp-ED chatbot app as a supplemental therapeutic tool during their first six weeks of PHP treatment. Participants will complete assessments every two weeks, including: (1) semi-structured interviews about their experience with the Exp-ED chatbot app, including design issues and engagement barriers; (2) implementation outcome measures (e.g., feasibility, usability, acceptability); and (3) anxiety about weight gain. Success will be evaluated using pre-determined benchmarks derived from previous mental health chatbot research. This project has two aims:
Aim 1: Iteratively adapt an exposure therapy chatbot app for AYAs with EDs. The investigators will conduct monthly reviews of mixed-methods data and use the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications-Enhanced (FRAME) to systematically document and evaluate modifications to the chatbot app. Each revised version will be tested with new participants, creating an iterative development process that continues throughout the project period. All adaptation decisions and their empirical foundations will be documented to create a comprehensive record of the app's development via implementation science frameworks.
Aim 2. Evaluate the feasibility, usability, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the Exp-ED chatbot app. H2.1: The investigators will recruit ≥50% of eligible AYAs with EDs. H2.2: Over the six-week project period, participants will use the app ≥18 times. H2.3: Participants will engage with the chatbot for ≥100 minutes total. H2.4: Participants will rate the Exp-ED chatbot app as acceptable (score ≥68 on the System Usability Scale). H2.5: Participants will report a ≥50% reduction in anxiety about weight gain.
Interventions
- Behavioral "Exp-ED" Digital Exposure-Therapy Chatbot app
Exp-ED is a text-based digital health application designed for smartphones and personal computers. It provides exposure-based content to adolescents and young adults with eating disorders. The chatbot guides users through exposure exercises (structured steps to reduce anxiety over time), records subjective distress ratings (self-reported anxiety scores), and offers evidence-based coping prompts. These sessions are intended to supplement clinical care during a six-week partial hospitalization pro
Primary outcome measures
- Number of times participants use web-app. [Time frame: End of Week 2, End of Week 4, End-of-Treatment (Week 6)]
- Number of minutes participants engage with the web-app. [Time frame: End of Week 2, End of Week 4, End-of-Treatment (Week 6)]
- Percent of eligible Adolescents and Young Adults Consented [Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year]
- System Usability Scale Survey (SUS) [Time frame: End of Week 2, End of Week 4, End-of-Treatment (Week 6)]
- Weight Gain Anxiety Questionnaire [Time frame: Baseline, End of Week 2, End of Week 4, End-of-Treatment (Week 6)]
Secondary outcome measures (7)
- Clinical Impairment Assessment (CIA) [Time frame: Baseline, End-of-Treatment (Week 6)]
- Eating Disorder Examination - Self-Report Questionnaire (EDE-Q) [Time frame: Baseline, End-of-Treatment (Week 6)]
- Eating Disorder Fear Questionnaire (EDFQ) [Time frame: Baseline, End-of-Treatment (Week 6)]
- Fear of Food Measure (FOFM) [Time frame: Baseline, End-of-Treatment (Week 6)]
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) [Time frame: Baseline, End-of-Treatment (Week 6)]
- Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) [Time frame: Baseline, End-of-Treatment (Week 6)]
- Eating Anxiety Questionnaire [Time frame: Baseline, End of Week 2, End of Week 4, End-of-Treatment (Week 6)]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Age is between or equal to 12-26 years
- Admitted to the Penn State Health Eating Disorder Partial Hospital Program (PHP) or Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
- Have a personal smartphone
- Have a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), binge-eating disorder (BED), or other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED)
- Be English speaking
Exclusion criteria
- Diagnosis of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)
- Have acute suicidality
- Diagnosis of an intellectual disability
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- N/A
- Model
- Single group
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
United States · 1 center
- Penn State College of Medicine — Hershey
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07237607 · 26987